Wings and Worship another way for The Chapel to reach out
PORT CLINTON — Last year, members of a ladies Bible study group had the idea to host a night of worship music on the M.O.M. stage in downtown Port Clinton. They didn’t know how many people would come, but the event was so successful that they planned another event this summer. Wednesday Wings and Worship was held Sept. 14, and it again packed downtown.
“A small group of ladies began meeting for a Bible study and to share life together, and they just had this vision,” said Chapel pastor Todd Nielsen. “They wanted to have music that is powerful, worshipful, and points to Jesus and everything he has done.”
The event included music from the worship team at The Chapel, a comedy routine by Associate Pastor Joe Binkley, and wing specials at local restaurants. Jeff Schill, house manager at Light House Sober Living, shared his recovery story.
“We’re just a small group from The Chapel,” said Brenda Smith, who helped organize the event. “One of the ladies in the group had the idea to bring worship music to the M.O.M. stage We wanted to include the restaurants and have a night of worship and inspiration.”
Wednesday Wings and Worship was another expression of The Chapel’s boots-on-the-ground Christianity. The church continually seeks ways to impact Port Clinton.
The Chapel goes outside its walls to reach community
“That’s what’s important at The Chapel — going outside your walls and reaching the community and supporting the community,” Smith said. “It’s what it’s all about, really.”
Smith said members such as Schill are helping the church reach more people.
“The sober community has become a big part of The Chapel. It’s amazing,” she said.
Although the crowd had been talking and laughing throughout the event, a silence spread across downtown as Schill told the story of how God rescued him from addiction. He told the crowd he overdosed eight times in one year.
“The eighth time was when God gave me the gift of desperation. I was beyond human aid, and the only thing that could stop me was God,” Schill said.
In those moments in July, 2015, Schill had his first experience feeling guilt, remorse, shame and fear about his addiction, but in the midst of those feelings, God poured hope.
“It was the first time I saw I needed help, but when I said I needed help, God worked through people immediately,” Schill said. “When I finally fully surrendered, I realized God had been with me my whole entire life.”
Like his church, Schill wants to connect people in the community with the same hope and help he found in Christ.
“I want to give as much as I can and love everybody, no matter where they’re at,” Schill said.
Church members begin PAUSE program
Sometimes that means going out into the community, and sometimes it means inviting the community into the safe space of the church. Chapel members Vicki Phillips, Kathy Pritts, Jan Baker and Karen Stack recently started PAUSE, a monthly time of prayer at the church that is open to the public. PAUSE is held the third Thursday of every month.
“We’re looking to create holy ground, where we can not only pray to God but can also hear from the Holy Spirit,” Pritts said. “This is the result of two years of us gathering to pray and being open to what the Holy Spirit wanted us to do. It wasn’t planned; it was organic.”
Ministries and events such as PAUSE and Wednesday Wings and Worship are evidence of The Chapel’s desire to share Christ anywhere they can.
“The Chapel has been instrumental in my recovery, and events like this are absolutely beautiful,” Schill said. “I haven’t felt this much peace and serenity in downtown Port Clinton in a long time.”
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wings and Worship another way for The Chapel to reach out
